Career and Business Networking Vocational Project

We're well on our way to creating a monthly networking event as part of our vocational avenue of service. Our goal is to develop a low cost high benefit evening for businesses and people to communicate in a social setting. The response so far has been very positive.

Currently we're looking at locations to hold the event in either Chelmsford or Westford. We've also created a new blog to help keep the communication going between events as well as become a resource tool for job seekers. The site address is http://www.rotaryinmotion.blogspot.com/ . A link is posted in the side bar as well, see Connecting Businesses and People. Future updates will be made on this blog.

The plan is to have a kick off meeting in the 3rd week of February. Subsequent meetings would follow in the 3rd week of each month, from 6 to 8pm. Advertising to businesses, Rotarians and the general public should commence at some point in the next two weeks.

Our Next Event ?

Our members are cooking up some new events for 2009 to strengthen fellowship, create awareness for Rotary and develop funds to support the many programs we're involved with. Want to find out what's cooking with the Merrimack Valley Rotary Club? Sign up for Feedblitz on this page to recieve updates as they occur.

Jill Lennon Joins Merrimack Valley Rotary Club

Jill Lennon, a computer consultant, is the newest member of the Merrimack Valley Rotary. Jill, who resides in Westford Massachusetts, joined the group on December 24. Pictured with Jill is Al Jean, who is presenting her with her Rotary pin. Al is a charter member and the Club's first president. Welcome aboard to Jill....we are very fortunate to have her as a member!

MV Rotarians Learn That Food Banks Needs All The Help They Can Get

Amy Pessia, Executive Director of the Merrimack Valley Food Bank, told the Merrimack Valley Rotarians that there is a critical need for food right now. But, she did mention to the members that there is a need throughout the year. So that it is important to remember the Food Bank now, but also during June, July and August.


The Food Bank is a community-supported non-profit organization that provides nutritious food and personal care items to emergency feeding programs serving the low-income, homeless and hungry. They are one of four food banks in Massachusetts.

Mission

Their mission statement says that "the focus of the Merrimack Valley Food Bank is to help meet a person's most profound need - adequate nutrition and freedom from hunger.Because of the current economic conditions, human service agencies are finding it difficult to find food for their clients. Only through cooperative efforts can society initiate change develop strategies to alleviate hunger and work toward the well being of all people.It is a basic human need to have adequate access to an environment conducive to well- being, which includes food, shelter and clothing. "

History

In October 1993, they formed their own non-profit organization after separating from the Middlesex Shelter (now the Lowell Transitional Living Center). They started with little funding, a donated U-Haul truck, free space in an old mill building, a twenty- year old refrigerator/freezer, four food companies and six agencies in Lowell. They have grown tremendously since then, thanks to their many friends and partners.

They Have Grown

They now occupy two levels of a historic mill building in Lowell, and have 2 refrigerated trucks. Their facility has a large refrigerated storage area as well as two large walk-in freezers. They have expanded their service areas to include the Merrimack Valley and North Shore. They now operate 7 programs and have increased their agency base to over 110. Most recently merged with M/A-COM Food Share's Mobile Pantry and Summer Lunch programs in 2004, and to continue these important feeding projects.

For More Information

If you want more information on the Food Bank visit their web site at: http://www.mvfb.org/index.htm

District 7910 Communications Network

Here's our new vision on a virtual social network. We plan to roll this out before year end. Send us your comments, we'd appreciate the input.

District 7910 Communications Network

View SlideShare presentation or Upload your own.

MV Rotarians Ring Bell For Salvation Army

For more than 20 years, the Merrimack Valley Rotary has been ringing the bell for the Salvation Army at the Walmart in Chelmsford, Massachusetts. Show are some of the crew that keep that bell ringing all day on Saturday, December 6th. Most ringers reported that the donations were brisk regardless of the economy.
Thanks to MV Rotary member James Fitton for organizing this successful event!

Tuba Christmas Has Become A MV Rotary Tradition

Merrimack Valley Rotary members took in the sights and the sounds of 150 tubas playing Christmas songs at the Tuba Christmas at Faneuil Hall in Boston, Massachusetts on Saturday, December 1, 2008. The event featured Elliot Farnsworth, husband of Club member Debi Farnsworth. The event lasted an hour and included a full array of Christmas songs as well as tuba version of the Hallelujah Chorus.

After the event, the members took in a tour of the Custom House, thanks to our tour guide, Patrick Crowley, and then a visit to Mr Dooley's Pub. We all look forward to a return to the event again next year!